Asia/Oceania Zone Group II: Friday

New Zealand is 2-0 up on visitors Lebanon after comprehensive wins for Daniel King-Turner and Artem Sitak on day one.

New Zealand No.1 King-Turner needed just 55 minutes to overun Michael Massih 61 61 60 and get his team's first point on the board in the first round tie in Auckland. King-Turner's countryman Artem Sitak was every bit as ruthless in Friday's second match, though he took marginally longer (one hour and seven minutes) to dispatch Karim Alayli of Lebanon 62 61 60.

Those opening day wins have left Lebanon with much work to do on the indoor hard-courts of the Albany Tennis Centre. Saturday should see Marcus Daniell join King-Turner in doubles action against the nominated Lebanon pairing of Alayli and Ibrahim Abou-Chahine in what is now a must-win match for the away team.

This match is all tied up at 1-1 after day one, following two very contrasting matches.

Aqeel Khan put Pakistan 1-0 up after his opponent, Dineshkanthan Thangararajah retired hurt with full body cramps when the scoreline stood at 64 16 4-2. Home favourite Harshana Godamanna then levelled the match 1-1 as he beat Pakistan's Davis Cup talisman Aisam Qureshi in a very tight match 76(3) 75 76(3).

Qureshi, who is best known as a doubles specialist, is likely to feature on Saturday alongside Khan when they take on Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse. The Pakistan players will know that if they win the doubles, then they stand a very good chance of winning the tie.

Thailand and Kuwait finished the first day in Meshref on an even keel after Danai Udomchoke put the visitors in the lead only for Abdullah Maqdas to level the tie for the hosts.

Udomchoke, the highest-ranked player on show at the Kuwait Tennis Federation Centre by some 350 places, was pushed all the way by the Kuwait No. 2 Mohammad Ghareeb but in the end the Thai player proved too strong, winning 61 61 46 46 64.

Maqdas pulled off a stunning victory to defeat Kittiphong Wachiramanowong 64 76(7) 36 36 61 and ensured that this Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tie will be live on the final day.

Philippines ended day one with a 2-0 lead in Lapu-Lapu after Johnny Arcilla put the hosts in the lead before Ruben Gonzales hammered home the Philippines' advantage.

Unranked 32-year-old Arcilla overcame stern early resistance from world No. 925 Issam Haitham Taweel to set Philippines off on the right foot, winning the opening rubber 64 57 61 62. Gonzales followed in similar fashion, grinding out the first two sets before defeating Abdelnour 64 76(1) 62.

Abdelnour and partner Majdi Salimb face Philippines pair Vicente Elberto Anasta and Treat Conrad Huey on Saturday, knowing that a win is vital if they are to keep this Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tie live.